Where the child's interest inspires great work
Maitri Learning creates educational materials that are research-based, accurate, beautiful, durable, and usable. Maitri Learning was founded somewhat accidentally by a Montessori teacher who was trying to buy the perfect materials for her classroom and couldn't find them anywhere. Now, the materials she created (based specifically on the precise directions received in her AMI training) are used by Montessori teachers, parents, and teacher trainers around the world. We are named after the Buddhist word maitri which means 'having a compassionate, kind heart.' We keep the principle of maitri at the front of all of our business decisions.
When you order Maitri Learning materials you can be confident that you are receiving materials of the highest educational value. All of our materials are designed by a Montessori teacher and rigorously reviewed and tested by Montessori teacher trainers, teachers, and children before they are offered for sale. Our research-based materials contain exactly what you and your children need and nothing else.
Maitri is a green, eco-friendly, fair-wage, right-livelihood, woman-owned business. We pay all of our employees at least $15/hour, which should be our country's national minimum wage. Our prices reflect these fair labor costs along with the higher costs of environmentally-sound paper, toxin-free laminate, and inks made without ozone-depleting substances.
"Parts of" External Anatomy
"Parts of" the Ant 3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Bird 3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Butterfly3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Fish 3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Flag 3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Flower (Dicot) 3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Flower (Monocot) 3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Frog 3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Horse 3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Katydid3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Leaf3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Lobster3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Sea Star (Starfish)3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Snail3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Spider3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Tree3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Turtle 3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
Botany "Parts of" 3-Part Set
$69.95 USD
Imperfect "Parts of" the Flower (Dicot) 3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD $9.50 USD
Imperfect "Parts of" the Tree3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD $9.95 USD
Butterflies
Butterflies Vocabulary
$7.95 USD
Butterflies Matching
$13.95 USD
Butterflies 3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Butterfly Book
$12.95 USD
"Parts of" the Butterfly3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Butterfly Book & Card Set
$49.95 USD
"Parts of" the Butterfly Definitions
$19.95 USD
Leaves
Leaf Shapes (Botany Cabinet) Book
$15.95 USD
Leaf Shapes (Botany Cabinet) 3-Part Reading
$24.95 USD
Leaf Shapes (Botany Cabinet) Definitions
$24.95 USD
Leaf Shapes Book & Card Set
$64.95 USD
"Parts of" the Leaf Book
$12.95 USD
"Parts of" the Leaf3-Part Reading
$18.95 USD
"Parts of" the Leaf Definitions
$19.95 USD
"Parts of" the Leaf Book & Card Set
$49.95 USD
Montessori Pedagogy Blog
Fade and Observe
“Old Montessorians never die, they just fade and observe.”
- Author unknown
I was observing in a primary classroom the other day when I saw an utterly enthralled 4-year-old boy doing the hand washing work. His hands were in the beautiful blue and white basin and he was smiling as he turned the water over and under each hand.
Soon he let out a sigh which apparently meant he was ready for the next step. He lifted his hands out of the basin, dried them on the towel, grasped the sides of the basin, and went to empty it. But into what? The perfectly coordinated pail was sitting ready for him on the shelf beneath the basin but it went completely unnoticed. Instead, the boy put the basin back on the table and placed the matching blue and white pitcher on the ground in front of the table. He then proceeded to meticulously pour the basin water into the wide-mouth of the pitcher! No easy task, let me assure you, yet very little water was spilled.
Setting up the Environment (Primary)
I've been working with Libertas Public Montessori School in Memphis. One of our many projects is to open a new Primary class. So, I've been investing a great deal of time in looking at material suppliers, thinking about plants, and measuring heights for tables and chairs. Since I know I'm not the only one doing this work, I decided to post my thoughts and discoveries here so we can all benefit...and maybe get a few of you to post some replies!
Nature
Sometimes our space has many low windows that bring a gorgeous natural landscape right into our classrooms. Sometimes, we have cinder block walls up to a drop ceiling. We have to work with what we have but in all cases, we must prioritize the natural world. Not just because I say so, but because research shows that views of nature have significant effects on attention and learning.
If you have windows with views of nature, showcase them. Put your easel right in front of them. Set many tables so that they look out on the vista. Banish your curtains and shades unless the sunlight is blinding.
If your windows look out on a parking lot or a busy walkway, hang half or quarter curtains. You want these at about 4-5' high and extending just to the window sill. The objective is to protect the child's attention by blocking unsightly or busy views while still letting in as much natural light and sky views as possible. Make sense? 
If you don't have windows, bring nature in. Get plants that will grow in the lighting you have,... lots of them. Give serious thought to a large fish tank or other pet terrarium. Minimize your use of fluorescent overhead lights and invest in lamps with those great bulbs that mimic natural light. (Be mindful of the cords, though. Keep those safely tucked away.) Build a canopy out of sticks. Get creative and find ways to make your classroom alive with the natural world. (Click on the photo for links to more ideas from childroots.)
Parent-Teacher Conferences
I remember the first parent-teacher conference I had. My daughter was not quite 3 years old and I had no idea what to expect. Her teacher, Maggie Radzik (an amazing Montessorian who deeply inspired me), sat down with me and said, "She's doing fine. I have no concerns. Do you have any questions?"
That was unexpected. She let me lead the dialogue and I had TONS of questions (like what are those "metal insects" my daughter wants to get her hands on so badly and how come she puts on her shoes all by herself here but not at home). That was the beginning of our teacher-parent friendship. It was also my introduction to this Montessori way of non-judgmentally and optimistically accepting each child for who they are.
Later, when I was a trained Montessorian myself and had to hold my own parent-teacher conferences, I always kept Maggie's example in mind. I don't think I did as well as her at first. I was nervous. I spoke too much. Sometimes I got caught up in deviations rather than focusing on normalization. But in every meeting, it turned out that the parents were actually the teachers and I was the student.
